Pallet for registering and securing a workpiece

In a stitching machine which utilizes an automatically controlled carriage for moving the workpiece in relation to the stitching instruments, a device for registering and securing the various parts of a composite workpiece in a fixed position on the carriage with respect to the instruments, said composite workpiece including base and overlay portions, comprising:

• A. a base plate having a cavity therein to receive the base of the workpiece, said cavity being registered in a fixed position with respect to the instruments, said base plate further having openings therein to allow access to the workpiece;
• B. a cover plate removably secured to the base plate to enclose the base cavity, said cover plate having openings therein to allow for access to the workpiece and for providing a cavity to receive the overlays in fixed registration with the instruments;
• and
• C. means for removably securing the base plate to the automatically controlled carriage.

In a stitching machine which utilizes an automatically controlled carriage for moving the workpiece in relation to the stitching instruments, a device for registering and securing a plurality of parts of a composite workpiece in a fixed position on the carriage with respect to the stitching instruments, comprising:

• A. a plurality of registration plates having cavities therein to receive the parts of the composite workpiece, at least one border of each of said cavities being accurately registered with respect to the stitching instruments, the first of said registration plates being adapted for mounting on the automatically controlled carriage and the remaining registration plates being pivotally secured to a surface of said first registration plate;
• and
• B. a pair of clamping plates having openings therein to allow access for the stitching instruments to the workpiece, said openings conforming to the stitch pattern;
• one of said plates being secured to the lower surface of the first registration plate and the second of said plates being pivotally secured to the upper surface of the assembly of registration plates to allow said second plate to pivot away from the registration plates to expose the cavities therein.